The Don Lane Show - Graham Kennedy Executive Producer sketch

Mike McColl Jones recalls that director Peter Faiman told him only hours before rehearsals on the day of the show that Graham wanted to reprise the Executive Producer (EP) sketch. 'Because it was Graham, it was relatively easy. When one can hear the voice of the person for whom they are writing, it makes it a lot easier', McColl Jones recalls of the tight deadline. 

Kennedy maintained a close working relationship with McColl Jones across two decades of television writing, beginning in 1963. McColl Jones was entrusted to write Graham's opening remarks, live commercial send-ups, and lots of 'prepared ad libs' over a decade of In Melbourne Tonight and The Graham Kennedy Show appearances. McColl Jones remained friends with Graham for the remainder of his life, producing a superb coffee-table book featuring many of Graham's personal collection of photographs and memorabilia, published in 2008. This is believed to be the final scripted comedy sketch performed by the inspired and longrunning Kennedy-Newton partnership.  

Graham, whose contract with Nine had long ceased, next appeared on several Seven programs. These included a guest role on big-budget period drama Five Mile Creek, a stint as anchor on news program 11AM and hosting the sketch comedy compilation series Graham Kennedy's World of Comedy.

Notes by Simon Smith